Is ‘The Office’ Free on Peacock? The Cost Difference for U.S. Viewers Since the Hit Series Left Netflix
Finding your favorite series on streaming services has become harder and harder as the marketplace expands. The Office, like many other popular shows, was on Netflix for a long time but is now only on Peacock in the U.S. How did this change affect viewers in terms of how much it costs to watch The Office?
‘The Office’ aired from 2005-2013 on NBC
The Office, a U.S. spinoff of the British series of the same name, premiered in 2005 on NBC. It features an ensemble cast including Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, and more, all of whom portray employees at a small-town paper company in Pennsylvania, whose lives are being taped.
Though The Office Season 1 earned mixed reviews, the writers were able to differentiate it from the original and create something that has stood the test of time. The hit series has become known as one of the most popular sitcoms in the U.S. in the more than 15 years since it first premiered.
Fans have been able to watch it on Netflix for years
When The Office aired its series finale in 2013, Netflix was only just beginning to grow into the streaming space. Previously a way to rent movies and have them mailed to you, the platform grew to become the home of binge-watching. And so, for many years, The Office fans have been able to do just that.
While The Office was very popular in its heyday, it’s nothing compared to how many new viewers discovered it when it made its way to Netflix. The streamer knew what a gem it had and frequently tweeted memes and gifs from the show from its official accounts, bringing the humor to a new generation.
‘The Office’ moved to Peacock in January 2021
But all good things must come to an end. “We’re sad that NBC has decided to take The Office back for its own streaming platform — but members can binge watch the show to their hearts’ content ad-free on Netflix until January 2021,” tweeted Netflix in June 2019, following an announcement from the network.
In 2020, NBCUniversal launched Peacock, a new streaming service. With it came NBC favorites like Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, Heroes, and much more. However, like The Office, other series were delayed due to pre-existing contracts set to expire after launch.
How much does it cost to watch ‘The Office’ on Peacock vs. Netflix?
So how does the cost break down? The free tier of Peacock only grants viewers access to the first two seasons of The Office. And there are commercials. The second tier, priced at $4.99 per month, has all nine seasons — but again, with ads. Finally, the third tier is a (primarily) ad-free way to watch The Office. It costs $9.99 each month.
Still, this is nearly half the cost of Netflix for some viewers. While Netflix never has ads, it’s cheapest subscription costs $14 per month, while it’s premium tier is $18 a month. These prices were set in late 2020 as yet another increase. However, adding yet another streaming service isn’t exactly ideal for those who already pay for Netflix.
